Simple Present

The Simple Present Tense is one of the most fundamental verb tenses in English, corresponding to the present indicative in Portuguese. It is used to express habitual actions, general facts, scheduled future events, and instructions. It is crucial for English learners, as it is extensively used in everyday communication.

1. When to Use the Simple Present?

Habits and routines:

We use the Simple Present to talk about actions that we perform regularly or that are part of our daily life.

• I play soccer every Saturday. (Eu jogo futebol todos os sábados.)

• She drinks coffee in the morning. (Ela toma café de manhã.)

General facts:

It is also used to express facts that are always true or universal.

• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. (A água ferve a 100 graus Celsius.)

• The sun sets in the west. (O sol se põe no oeste.)

Instructions and directions:

We use the Simple Present to give instructions or directions.

• You turn right at the next corner. (Você vira à direita na próxima esquina.)

• Open the book and read the first page. (Abra o livro e leia a primeira página.)

Scheduled events:

Used to talk about future events that are already scheduled.

• The train leaves at 7 PM. (O trem sai às 19h.)

• Her flight arrives tomorrow morning. (O voo dela chega amanhã de manhã.)

Present or future events:

• Your exam starts at 09:00 AM.

Future reference with specific conjunctions

Used after certain conjunctions: after, when, before, as soon as, until:

• He'll bring it to you when you come next Saturday.

2. Structure:

Affirmative Form

In the affirmative form, we use the base form of the verb. However, in the third person singular (he, she, it), we need to add "-s", "-es" or "-ies", depending on the verb.

• General Rule: Add "-s" to verbs.
  • He eats lunch at noon. (Ele almoça ao meio-dia.)

• Verbs ending in "-y": Change "-y" to "-ies" if the "-y" is preceded by a consonant.
  • She studies a lot. (Ela estuda muito.)
  • Exception: If "-y" is preceded by a vowel, just add "-s".
    • He plays the guitar. (Ele toca guitarra.)

• Verbs ending in "-ch", "-sh", "-x", "-ss" or "-o": Add "-es".
  • She watches TV every evening. (Ela assiste TV todas as noites.)
  • He goes to the gym regularly. (Ele vai à academia regularmente.)

Negative Form

In the negative form, we use the auxiliaries do not (don't) or does not (doesn't), followed by the base form of the verb.

• For he, she, it, we use "does not" or "doesn't".
  • She doesn't like chocolate. (Ela não gosta de chocolate.)

• For other pronouns, we use "do not" or "don't".
  • They don't play basketball. (Eles não jogam basquete.)

Structure:

Subject + do/does not + verb (base form)

• I do not eat fast food. (Eu não como fast food.)

• He does not understand the problem. (Ele não entende o problema.)

Interrogative Form

In the interrogative form, we place the auxiliary do or does at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject and the base form of the verb.

• For he, she, it, we use "does".
  • Does she speak French? (Ela fala francês?)

• For other pronouns, we use "do".
  • Do they live near here? (Eles moram perto daqui?)

Structure:

Do/does + subject + verb (base form)

• Do you like pizza? (Você gosta de pizza?)

• Does he play the piano? (Ele toca piano?)

Summary

3. Important Tips for Third Person:

• In the third person singular, the verb always takes -s at the end:he walks, she learns, he speaks, she dances.

• Add -es to verbs ending in: ss, -x, -sh, -ch:he discusses, she fixes, he brushes, it reaches.

• Verbs ending in -y: in the third person singular, replace y with ies:hurry → hurries, study → studies.*Exception: when there's a vowel before -y: enjoy → enjoys, pray → prays.

• Negative and interrogative forms use DOES (= "DO" auxiliary for third person) + the verb in infinitive form:He speaks English. Does he speak French? He does not speak Spanish.

The Simple Present is one of the most used verb tenses in English. It allows you to describe daily actions, express facts, and communicate basic ideas, being essential for effective communication. By mastering its rules, you'll be prepared to construct clear sentences and express yourself in everyday English!